Pence's office tells agencies to ignore Indiana same-sex marriages

Gov. Mike Pence's office is telling all executive agencies to ignore any of the same-sex marriages that had been filed in late June after a federal judge's order.

On Monday, Mark G. Ahern, chief counsel to Pence, issued a memo to all executive branches, according to The Indianapolis Star.

In the memo, it states that Indiana's ban is "in full force and effect and executive branch agencies are to executive their functions as though the U.S. District Court Order of June 25, 2014, had not been issued."

U.S. District Judge Richard Young ruled June 25 that Indiana's ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. Following that order, same-sex couples went to their county clerk's offices to file for marriage licenses. In Delaware County, more than 15 couples lined up at the office.

Just two days afterward, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago granted a stay on the judge's order, which put a halt on the marriages.

The stay also caused uncertainty for couples who filed during the three-day window when it was legal in Indiana.

While agencies are being told not to recognize the hundreds of marriages performed between June 25 and June 27, Indiana will recognize just one: Amy Sandler and Nikole Quasney's.

Sandler and Quasney were married out of state, and due to an appellate court order, Indiana must recognize their marriage. Quasney is dying of ovarian cancer.

Kyle Megrath, marriage coordinator for Hoosiers Unite for Marriage, released a statement, saying the group was disappointed by Pence's decision.

"We will continue to fight for these couples to be treated equally," he said in the statement. "... They deserve the respect and recognition that comes with [the marriage] commitment."

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